For vehicles made after 1996, retrieving the codes of the check engine light in your dash panel is simple. All you need to do is find your diagnostic connector located under the dash by the driver side. You can then hook up a scanner and the codes will be displayed for you. If you don’t have any scanner like most drivers, you can bring your vehicle to any local automotive parts store and they will usually scan the codes FREE for you. However, for vehicles made on or before 1995, there is only one cheap way to get it: You do it yourself!
On board diagnostic (OBD) was designed on vehicles equipped with electronic fuel injection so you can generally retrieve the codes yourself. No need buying a scanner or running to any parts stores to check the engine light. This system is called obd1 and applies to most vehicles made before 1995 for domestics and 1993 on imports. In this article, I will discuss the methods used by domestic vehicle manufacturers on how to check the engine light codes in their cars and trucks.
For GM domestic vehicles made before 1995, the diagnostic connector is located under the dash panel by the driver side. To get the check engine codes to flash in your dash panel, use a jumper wire or a paper clip and connect terminals A and B of the diagnostic connector. Turn your ignition key on with engine off and the codes should start to blink. All codes should start with code 12 which is one long flash followed by 2 short flashes. This code 12 means the diagnostic system is normal and will repeat itself continuously if there are no trouble codes. Otherwise, code 12 will flash 3 times before flashing the fault codes.
Ford owners can check their check engine light using the diagnostic connector located at the engine compartment by the fender near the battery. Getting the obd1 codes need a couple of tools: a 4 inch long gage 16 jumper wire and a 12 volt test light.
Both tools are hooked up to the diagnostic connector and when the ignition key is turned on (without starting engine) the codes will begin to flash in the test light, not in the dash panel. If there is no code, you will normally get code 11 or 111. On Fords, there are 2 test modes, the KOEO (key on engine off) and the KOER (key on engine running). Both test modes should be used to get the accurate evaluation of the stored fault codes.
Of all the 3 domestic vehicles, the easiest method to check the engine light is Chrysler products. Why? Because all you need is to turn the ignition key on and off a within 5 seconds and the codes will start to flash in the dash panel.
Counting the codes being flashed is almost the same for these 3 domestic vehicles and most of the codes can be erased or cleared by disconnecting the battery negative terminal for 1 minute and reconnect. Just make sure to check your service manual in case you have electronic equipment such as radio or clock that needs reprogramming in which battery disconnection is not recommended. Finally after performing repairs on the culprit code, always go for a road test to confirm if the problem is fixed.
If you want a detailed way on how the above procedures are done, please visit my blog: http://check-engine-light-codes.blogspot.com . This blog offers free info on how to check engine light codes with OBD1 Codes Secrets for Domestic Vehicles
color pictures and regular repair tips so you can save money next time you see your check engine light.
OBD1 Codes Secrets for Check Engine light
Generate Free Blog Traffic With Eye Catching Designs
Are you thrilled with the design of your blog? As your blog becomes more popular, and you start to get a feel for who you are as a blogger, you might decide that it’s time for a design overhaul. Or, perhaps you never gave the design much thought and you are ready to now. It is extremely important to understand that a good blog design can be crucial to the success of your blog.
Here are 3 websites that are user friendly and offer killer blog designs:
1. Wp101.com is dedicated to getting new bloggers up and running fast with WordPress. It features a 17 part video tutorial on how to create and optimize a blog in the shortest amount of time. “These are the perfect videos for a newbie… and a novice. I learned things I didn’t even know I needed. You will too.”– Sheila Atwood
2. TypePod.com offers hundreds of blog designs, simple publishing tools and a large menu of professional support services to choose from. “It is easier and cheaper than ever before to launch a small business thanks, in part, to low cost online tools.”-Steve King
3. Squarespace.com is ideally suited for authors, doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professional service providers. They also provide Squarespace iPhone Application. “This is the kind of software the Internet has been crying out for.”- Wall Street Journal Online
The design itself can also be a factor. In some cases, bloggers choose themes that are just too over-the-top. Your content should be the focus here. If your actual design is distracting, and you’ll probably make fewer affiliate sales and get fewer people reading your blog. Sometimes, simple is definitely the way to go when it comes to blogging.
When you have a simple, attractive, and on-topic blog theme, you’ll find that everything else will start to come together too. Your readers will want to visit – they will want to read and add comments because the site is welcoming. Keep in mind, however, that while the design should be pleasing and on topic, it should never be the focus or a distraction. If it is the focus, then the chances are that you’ll make a lot less money than you could have otherwise.
Visit other blogs in your niche to get a feel for what kind of design you might want to use for your own blog. What themes are they using? Is their blog easy to navigate?
If you are starting to make money with your blog, then it may be time for you to purchase a flexible theme you can customize. You can even hire someone to create a theme just for you! You can use a bidding site like Elance.com or Guru.com to find the freelancer that is right for you. Having your own blog theme will allow you to have a blog design that suits your blog perfectly.
No matter whether you use a free theme, premium theme, or get one designed for you, it’s important to put some thought into your blog design. Don’t let it be a distraction, and ensure that it compliments your content and your methods of monetization.
Four Steps to Create a Blog
Designing and installing blogs is easy if you follow the four steps to create a blog below.
The net is so huge already but it still has room for more blogs, more websites and more advertisers, so if you want to share your pastimes and make a bit of money promoting affiliate products, then blogging is for you.
When you have created your blog, you can post articles and messages, videos and photographs and contact friends as well as displaying advertisements to earn some money.
However, I’m running ahead here because first you need to follow these four steps to create a blog.
Step one: Find a blog hosting account
If you don’t already have your own web hosting service, then you need to find a place to publish your blog so that it will be accessible to web surfers.
There are plenty of blogging companies out there which offer unpaid services but these will have slightly limited features compared with a paid service. Even So, if you don’t need anything too elaborate, a free service will be sufficient; just type “free blogging services” and “free blogging software” into Google search, for a list.
Step two: Personalise your blog
Many of the blog software packages have free features which enable you to personalise your blog and really make it your own as well as adding functionality.
Change the template. Find a template which you like and which fits with your subject. Generally, a template will give you a choice of arrangement and colour scheme. If you are familiar with html, then you will be able to change the code of these yourself. There are plenty of places which offer free templates on the internet; for example:
BlogSkins – Templates from BlogSkins are useable with blogging services such as Blogger and MovableType software.
Blog Fashions allow you to copy or alter their featured templates but they are only useable with Movable Type software.
Blogmaker offers a huge number of templates to choose from as well as tools which will make blogging easy.
Use tagboards. Tagboards, like templates use html code but tagboards allow instant comments and messages. Again, do a Google search for “tagboards”.
Add games or animations to make your blog a fun place to be. These will give your blog a sense of dynamism and liveliness and they can be found by searching for “animations”.
Step Three: Add your own bits and pieces
There are lots of extra bits and pieces that you can add such as a Blogroll (list of links), Tweet My Blog, other social bookmarking services, Amazon and AdSense, to name but a few.
Step Four: Add content
You can add other people’s content if you want, particularly if you use Firepow blogging software which incorporates a neat tool to collect relevant content. However, your own unique content is likely to attract more visitors.
If you follow these four steps to create a blog, your own will be published in no time.